The Rivers Progressive Forum, RPF, has stated that no amount of effort by the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan will make the people of the state sell their rights for a mere dish of porridge just like Esau.
In a Press statement released to Newsbaronline and signed by Prince Chidi Weli, the group said that the recent empowerment program by the Millennium Development Goal Office of the President in partnership with the office of the First Lady, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State is far short of the yearning of the people of the state.
The group said that it is sad that the Federal Government through the MDG office decided to exchange the rights of the people for basic infrastructure like Roads, Schools, Hospitals, Housing and other basic amenities in place of Buses, Keke Napep, Sewing Machines, Hair Driers, Gas Cookers and other minor equipment which in no way impact in the general life of the people of the state.
According to Weli, "The people of Rivers state deserve better for our support to the President during the last general elections. We expect the President to reciprocate our kind gesture with the provision of meaningful projects in the manner of basic infrastructure and not the hastily arranged Greek gifts his wife and her 'clowns' have brought to buy the conscience of our people".
Stating further, the group which is an umbrella body of Rivers People at home and in diaspora said, " We know why the program was organized by the Minister for State, Education, Chief Nyesom Wike. He wants to buy the conscience of the electorates who have suffered untold hardship under the PDP-led Federal Government of President Goodluck Jonathan. We have nothing to show for the support we gave to the President during the last elections. There is no major Federal presence in our state. In spite of our two million votes for President Jonathan, he has done nothing to appreciate our support. The Federal roads like the Bori-Bodo road has remained in an undeplorable state even after he promised our traditional rulers that it will be done. The Port Harcourt International Airport which was closed down by President Obasanjo for two years and reopened by late President Umaru Yaradua has remained uncompleted even when other states' airports have been completed. In the area of Power, we have only depended on the State Gas Turbine. We also understand that President Jonathan has refused to refund the Rivers State Government all the money it expended on Federal Projects in the state amounting to over N150 billion naira. There are no Housing Projects while Education is the worst hit as our Higher Institutions have suffered same fate with others all over the country".
The group warned that those who have continued to deceive the poor masses in the state with their sham empowerment program have declared themselves the enemies of the state.
Prince Weli further urged the people of the state to be wary of the antics of those who are desperate to take over the reins of power. He said that the failure of the Federal Government to implement the UNEP report on the Oil Spill in Ogoni Land is another pointer to the fact that the agents of the PDP and the Federal Government are chasing shadows.
The group also condemned the plot by the Federal Government to reduce the allocations of the state by ceding the Soku Oil Wells to Bayelsa State in a bid to frustrate the State Government Projects just for political reasons.
The Rivers Progressive Forum has said that it will petition the National Assembly to investigate why the office of the MDG of the President would be involved in that kind of sham project when in actual fact, they are supposed to build schools and provide meaningful projects for the people of the state.
On the new buses said to have been bought to empower the people, Prince Weli queried on which roads the recipients of those buses intend to move on as the Federal Government has failed to provide good roads in the state. He wondered why the MDG did not partner with the State Government which has provided 21st Century roads for the people of the state.
WE CANNOT SELL OUR RIGHTS FOR A MERE DISH OF PORRIDGE- Rivers Youths tell FG
The Rivers Progressive Forum, RPF, has stated that no amount of effort by the Federal Government under President Goodluck Jonathan will make the people of the state sell their rights for a mere dish of porridge just like Esau.
In a Press statement released to Newsbaronline and signed by Prince Chidi Weli, the group said that the recent empowerment program by the Millennium Development Goal Office of the President in partnership with the office of the First Lady, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State is far short of the yearning of the people of the state.
The group said that it is sad that the Federal Government through the MDG office decided to exchange the rights of the people for basic infrastructure like Roads, Schools, Hospitals, Housing and other basic amenities in place of Buses, Keke Napep, Sewing Machines, Hair Driers, Gas Cookers and other minor equipment which in no way impact in the general life of the people of the state.
According to Weli, "The people of Rivers state deserve better for our support to the President during the last general elections. We expect the President to reciprocate our kind gesture with the provision of meaningful projects in the manner of basic infrastructure and not the hastily arranged Greek gifts his wife and her 'clowns' have brought to buy the conscience of our people".
Stating further, the group which is an umbrella body of Rivers People at home and in diaspora said, " We know why the program was organized by the Minister for State, Education, Chief Nyesom Wike. He wants to buy the conscience of the electorates who have suffered untold hardship under the PDP-led Federal Government of President Goodluck Jonathan. We have nothing to show for the support we gave to the President during the last elections. There is no major Federal presence in our state. In spite of our two million votes for President Jonathan, he has done nothing to appreciate our support. The Federal roads like the Bori-Bodo road has remained in an undeplorable state even after he promised our traditional rulers that it will be done. The Port Harcourt International Airport which was closed down by President Obasanjo for two years and reopened by late President Umaru Yaradua has remained uncompleted even when other states' airports have been completed. In the area of Power, we have only depended on the State Gas Turbine. We also understand that President Jonathan has refused to refund the Rivers State Government all the money it expended on Federal Projects in the state amounting to over N150 billion naira. There are no Housing Projects while Education is the worst hit as our Higher Institutions have suffered same fate with others all over the country".
The group warned that those who have continued to deceive the poor masses in the state with their sham empowerment program have declared themselves the enemies of the state.
Prince Weli further urged the people of the state to be wary of the antics of those who are desperate to take over the reins of power. He said that the failure of the Federal Government to implement the UNEP report on the Oil Spill in Ogoni Land is another pointer to the fact that the agents of the PDP and the Federal Government are chasing shadows.
The group also condemned the plot by the Federal Government to reduce the allocations of the state by ceding the Soku Oil Wells to Bayelsa State in a bid to frustrate the State Government Projects just for political reasons.
The Rivers Progressive Forum has said that it will petition the National Assembly to investigate why the office of the MDG of the President would be involved in that kind of sham project when in actual fact, they are supposed to build schools and provide meaningful projects for the people of the state.
On the new buses said to have been bought to empower the people, Prince Weli queried on which roads the recipients of those buses intend to move on as the Federal Government has failed to provide good roads in the state. He wondered why the MDG did not partner with the State Government which has provided 21st Century roads for the people of the state.
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